As a specialist in car body modules, the new subsidiary LAEPPLE AUTOMOTIVE US, Inc. will revitalize the halls of the Mount Elliott Tool and Die production facility, which have been lying empty for several years, and will initially focus on the production of spare parts – an area in which the company already has extensive experience.
The project involves investments in the mid double-digit million range. The plant in Detroit is currently being renovated and modernized; the first production facilities are already under construction. Production is scheduled to start in November. The company is developing its activities on an area of 270,000 ft².
“Detroit is the origin of the American automotive industry, and we are excited to open a new chapter in our company's history here,” says Oliver Wackenhut, CEO of LÄPPLE AUTOMOTIVE. “With our expertise and passion for body-in-white manufacturing, we will not only bring the plant to life, but also offer our customers new opportunities for their projects by expanding our international footprint.”
The company entered the American market last year in close cooperation with NRTC Automation to complete its first customer project. NRTC Automation will continue to support LAEPPLE AUTOMOTIVE as a partner in order to take the next strategic steps in the North American market together.
For LAEPPLE AUTOMOTIVE, the new site in Detroit will be the hub to produce spare parts for the North American market. Two major orders have already been received from an American OEM, for which orders are currently also being produced at the German sites – proof of the great confidence in the quality and expertise of LAEPPLE AUTOMOTIVE.
The company's expertise in spare parts production is extensive and has a long tradition: spare parts for over 250 model series are produced at the German sites. As a full-range supplier of spare parts of all kinds, LAEPPLE AUTOMOTIVE can guarantee maximum performance with an increasing variety of spare parts thanks to fast set-up concepts and optimum cycle times.
The development of the new site is being significantly supported by the city of Detroit and the state of Michigan. Thanks to its long automotive tradition, the region also offers great potential for qualified specialists, which further underlines the attractiveness of the location. LAEPPLE AUTOMOTIVE plans to create up to 200 new jobs at the site by 2029.
“On behalf of Team Michigan, we are thrilled that LÄPPLE AUTOMOTIVE has chosen to ‘Make It in Michigan’ and contribute to the state’s thriving automotive ecosystem with the establishment of their new U.S. headquarters in Detroit,” said Quentin L. Messer, Jr., CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. “We are honored to have earned this foreign direct investment as we execute the ‘Make It In Michigan’ economic development strategy focused on People, Places and Projects. We look forward to the company’s growth in Detroit as Michigan remains the leader in the evolving global automotive industry.”
The new location in Detroit is more than just an expansion - it is a decisive step in the dynamic growth strategy of LÄPPLE AUTOMOTIVE, which has been able to continuously increase its turnover over the last four years, most recently to around 450 million Euros in 2023.
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